Brace yourselves for biometric ID

Fingerprint-it.com presents

November 15 2005 at 07:25AM

By Fiona Gounden

South Africa's major chain-store groups are conducting trials with
fingerprint technology which may mean shoppers will soon no longer
have to carry cash.

All that shoppers would have to do is memorise their PIN codes. The
system, which is called Pay by Touch, is widely used in the US and
consists of a scanning machine that reads the fingerprint of the
shopper, bringing up details of their credit or debit card.

Shoppers don't need to carry any cards or cash when they go
shopping. It has been a hit with shoppers in the US and has sped up
transactions and dramatically reduced fraud.

This technology does, however, raise a number of cultural issues
Shoprite Checkers is already investigating Pay by Touch, according
to Brian Weyers, marketing manager.

"The Shoprite group is well aware of the new technology, which only
asks the consumer to memorise a personal security number without
having to carry any cards or cash, which will mean they are less at
risk of being robbed.

"The scanning machines at till-points that read the fingerprint of
the shopper are highly specialised. Our specialists who have visited
the US say it has reduced crime and could prove to be successful in
South Africa."

Weyers says the process could take between one and two years to
introduce: "We have been looking at this specific technology and are
talking to the various players such as the banking groups who all
have a role to play to make it happen in South Africa.

"It is our hope to introduce it sooner than later, given the obvious
benefits to the consumer. This should take over a year if we're
fast, or up to two years if we choose to conduct more
investigations," says Weyers.

Gerhard Roux, head of information technology at Woolworths,
says: "Woolworths is aware of the technology and we are already
conducting trials internally. The technology does have merit. We are
conducting surveys with customers to get a general overview of how
widely it would be accepted."

Roux says issues need addressing. "This technology does, however,
raise a number of cultural and religious issues around people being
reluctant to make fingerprints available to companies for reference
purposes.

"Woolworths' view is that although this technology is an important
development we will only roll this out after receiving general
customer approval and after having advanced experimentation."

The chief executive officer at Spar's head office, Peter Hughes,
says the chain store is already working with banks to discuss the
advantages and shortfalls of biometric identification.

"We are very aware of Pay by Touch. With technology moving so fast,
this may take place in South Africa soon. We've been liaising with
banks who are also conducting investigations into biometric
identification. If it's deemed to be advantageous, then we'll
consider doing it in a few years' time."

Pick 'n Pay will adopt biometric identification at its stores if it
proves a success at major retail stores, according to managing
director Harold Dawson: "Pick 'n Pay has always been committed to
adopting new technology for the benefit of its customers. We've seen
that banks are planning to introduce fingerprint technology at the
ATMs.

"If we find that major retail stores are introducing biometric
identification at their stores and it is effective, then we will
definitely introduce it here."

The Ideco (Identification Company) Group, which specialises in
fitting biometric identification technology equipment, has
identified certain tactics that can be used by criminals and is
working on it.

Biometric identification expert and the company's director, Albie
Geldenhuys, says: "Some criminals may be able to fake a fingerprint
by lifting the fingerprint off a glass and creating a fake finger.

Our specialised systems in the identification sensor screens are so
hi-tech that it can detect this.

"However, if a criminal chops of someone's finger or hand, then it
could be used for a while, and thereafter would be useless. We are
busy working on this and investigating different technology to
detect this."





This article was originally published on page 7 of The Star on
November 12, 2005

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